If anything, Jennifer’s engineering journey began firmly on the ground and far from the flight line. After graduating in automotive and motor sports engineering at City University London (now known as City St George’s, University of London)—the same university her father graduated from—she returned to Hong Kong to be closer to her grandparents. Eager to put her learning into practice, she started her career repairing motorbikes. 

A conversation with her grandfather reset her course. As an aircraft aficionado, he encouraged Jennifer to explore aircraft maintenance engineering—an idea her father, a civil engineer, backed enthusiastically. “My first toy from my dad was an excavator,” Jennifer laughs. “He had a big influence on my decision to enter this industry.”

In 2012, Jennifer spotted a newspaper ad for HAECO’s Aircraft Engineering Licence Trainee (AELT) programme and joined the company. The structured training and role rotations appealed to her. After moving through airframe, avionics, cabin, engine, landing gear and more, she developed a deeper understanding of how an aircraft works and fails, and how to return an aircraft to service. 

Over the years, she absorbed knowledge down to the smallest details from her colleagues and peers. “I learned how to delegate tasks, arrange rosters and communicate effectively,” she says. That foundation, combined with her hard work, led to her major career milestone: after around 14 years in the field, Jennifer became the first female aircraft heavy maintenance project controller within the HAECO Group.

As a project controller, she oversees coordination between customers and internal teams—translating requests into action, aligning schedules and resolving issues to keep aircraft departures on track. That means working closely with engineers across functions, identifying critical paths and coordinating fast solutions. 

Today, Jennifer leads a team of more than 40 people. She holds HKCAD Cat. B approvals for Airbus A330, A350 and Boeing 777, and is applying for HKCAD Cat. C across these aircraft types. Her advice to newcomers is simple: “Be clear about your direction before entering a new industry, then commit wholeheartedly.” Ask questions early, she adds, because learning starts by asking – and don’t be afraid to fail. Be proactive, keep challenging yourself and never give up.

Kert Berry, Base Maintenance Manager of HAECO Hong Kong, said, “Jennifer is highly respected by colleagues and customers alike, admired not only for her cheerful and positive nature but also for her ability to focus and deliver when it matters most. Her passion, curiosity, and drive for engineering excellence consistently translate into outstanding results, making her a valuable asset to both our company and the customers we serve.”

Outside work, Jennifer enjoys traveling, building models and watching concerts – small pleasures that help her recharge before the next challenge.